He drew back, looking hurt as he stood before the fire pit. “I’ll allow I’ve gotten myself in a powerful fix, Rachel, but what have I done to turn you so cold?”

My motion to clean the slate slowed, and I turned with a sigh. The truth of it was, I wasn’t sure. I only knew that the things that had attracted me once now looked childish and inane. He’d been a ghost, more or less, and had agreed to be Al’s familiar if the demon could give him a body. Al had shoved his soul into a dead witch before the body even had the chance to skip a heartbeat. It didn’t help that I’d known the guy Al had put his soul into. I didn’t think I could take another person’s body to save myself. But then, I’d never been dead before.

I looked at Pierce now, seeing the same reckless determination, the same disregard for the future that had gotten me shunned, rightfully, and all I knew was that I didn’t want anything to do with it. I took a breath and let it out, not knowing where to start. But a shiver lifted through me at the memory of his touch, ages ago but still fresh in my mind. Al was right. I was an idiot.

“It’s not going to work, Pierce,” I said flatly, and I turned away.

My tone had been harsh, and Pierce’s voice lost its sparkle. “Rachel. Truly. What’s wrong? I took this job to be closer to you.”

“That’s just it!” I exclaimed, and he blinked, bewildered. “This is not a job!” I said, waving the dish towel. “It’s slavery. You belong to him, body and soul. And you did it intentionally! We could have found another way to give you a body. Your own, maybe! But no. You just jumped right into a demon pact instead of asking for help!”

He came around the table, close but not quite touching me. “I swan, a demon curse is the only way to become living again,” he said, touching his chest. “I know what I’m doing. This isn’t forever. When I can, I’ll kill the demon spawn, and then I’ll be free.”

“Kill Al?” I breathed, not believing he still thought he could.

“I’ll be free of him and have a body, both.” He took my hands, and I realized how cold I was. “Trust me, Rachel. I know what I’m doing.”

Oh my God. He is as bad as I am. Was. “You’re crazy!” I exclaimed, pulling out of his grip. “You think you’re more powerful than you are, with your black magic and whatever! Al is a demon, and I don’t think you grasp what he can do. He’s playing with you!”

Pierce leaned against the table, arms crossed and the light catching the colorful pattern of his vest. “Do tell? You opine I don’t know what I’m doing?”

“I opine you don’t!” I mocked, using his own words. His attitude was infuriating, and I looked at the bowl behind him, the remnant of others who had thought they were smarter than a demon now just names on a bowl, bottles on a shelf.